Matt Riddle’s war of words with Bill Goldberg may have been loud — but according to Riddle, the two don’t really have any beef at all now.
For years, the beef between Matt Riddle and Bill Goldberg felt very real. It started publicly in 2019 when Goldberg confronted Riddle backstage at SummerSlam and told him, “I’m not your bro.” Since then, Riddle has repeatedly taken shots at Goldberg’s in-ring ability. But now, Riddle says the animosity is gone.
Speaking on the Rewind Recap Relive podcast on February 21, 2026, Riddle explained that the turning point happened during a WWE overseas trip. He first set the scene, explaining how their travel arrangements unexpectedly put them face-to-face.
“We were both going to Saudi, and I believe he was fighting for the title or defending it — I forget exactly where we were in the timeline. On the way there, he was on a private flight with Vince. On the way back, he was on the flight with the rest of the boys, and we were both in first class.”
Before even getting into the conversation with Goldberg, Riddle made sure to shout out Randy Orton for helping him land a first-class seat — which ultimately made the interaction possible.
“Lucky for me, Randy liked me and made management give me first-class tickets. Randy’s the man. I’ll never forget that.”
Once on the plane, Riddle said the tension didn’t explode — it simmered. The two veterans ended up standing near the bar area in first class, and surprisingly, drinks broke the ice.
“So me and Goldberg are in first class, and you might be shocked, but I like a Bloody Mary. Goldberg likes a Bloody Mary too. So we’re drinking Bloody Marys at the little bar and start talking. It wasn’t heated, but it was intense.”
Riddle explained that while the conversation wasn’t hostile, it was honest. Goldberg acknowledged Riddle’s MMA background and grappling skills, which Riddle appreciated: “He told me he respected my jiu-jitsu and everything I bring.”
In return, Riddle didn’t sugarcoat his own thoughts on Goldberg. He told him directly that while he didn’t consider him a technical great, he respected what he brought as a larger-than-life star.
“I told him I respected him for his entertainment value. I’ve watched a bunch of his movies. Honestly, the one I liked the most was Santa’s Slay, where he plays a murdering Santa Claus.”
Riddle admitted he was blunt — something that has defined his public comments for years. From there, the conversation changed to what might have been. Riddle said he pitched the idea of a feud not as an ego move, but because he genuinely believed it would work.
“I told him straight up, I don’t think you’re a great professional wrestler, but your entertainment level is through the roof. You look the part. You are the part. I told Bill, I guarantee if we had a feud, people would be highly invested.”
He made it clear that he knows how to structure a match and protect his opponent, especially someone with Goldberg’s style and limitations. Riddle even laid out how the match could have been structured — longer than Goldberg’s typical sprint-style bouts.
“I’m not perfect, but I’m very good in the ring, and I know how to take care of people. I know how to make them look good. I said we could have a 15–20 minute match, and it would be sick. People wouldn’t trash it — they’d probably say it was Bill’s best match.”
Riddle clarified that he wasn’t trying to force a booking or stir up management drama. He was simply clearing the air and showing respect. By the end of the flight, the tone had completely shifted. The edge was gone, replaced by mutual understanding — and a lot of cocktails.
“I just told him I respect you, and I would never do anything out there to hurt you or make you look bad. We talked about it and had fun. We probably drank a lot — I think we even ran out of tomato juice on the plane.”
The King of Bros closed by making it clear there’s no lingering hostility today: “If I see him now, there’s no ill will. That was probably the closest we ever came to making it happen.”
Now, instead of unfinished business, it sounds like there’s simply mutual respect — and a story about Bloody Marys that almost led to a dream match.
Do you think Matt Riddle vs. Goldberg could have delivered if it actually happened, or was it better left as a near-miss? Sound off in the comments.
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